Beet lifting and topping implement



Dec. 14,1943. c A. LOUCKS EI'AL.

BEET LIFTING AND TOPPING IMPLEMENT 2 Shee ts-Sheet l INVENTORS C.H.Loucks Filed Oct. 9, 1942 Defl 1943 c. A. LOUCKS ETAL 2,336,623

BEET LIFTI NG AND TOPPING IMPLEMENT. I

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1942 INVENTORS -C. H.Lou.cks

' BY LJSchmidi ATTORNEYS EV k Patented Dec. 14, 1943 r FFlC BEE'I LHTING 'EOPPIN G LEMEN'E Grove, @alii'.

Application Uctober 9, 1942, Serial No. 461,402

3 Claims. (Cl. 55-105) This invention relates generally to a beet harvesting implement, and in particular the invention is directed to, and it is our principal object to provide, a unique beet lifting and topping implement. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a beet lifting and topping implement which includes, in novel combination, a tractor drawn frame, and a ground engaging wheel journaled on said frame and having circumferential rows of spaced spikes projecting from the wheel face for impaling and lifting beets over which the wheel passes; the implement including a beet topping unit associated with the wheel clear of the ground, but in a position to top beets impaled on andlifted by said spikes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a beet lifting and topping implement, as in the preceding paragraph, which include plows mounted in connection with the frame and engaging in the earth soas to loosen the same and assist in lifting the imbedded beets impaled on the spikes of the advancing wheel; said plow being disposed to effect such action shortly after the spikes are impaled into the beets but before elevating movement of said spikes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a beet lifting implement which includes a spiked ground engaging wheel; the spikes projecting outwardly from the face of the wheel with a curve opposite to the direction of rotation, such curve being on a progression so that the spikes enter the beets with a smooth, non-tearing action.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved beet lifting and topping implement which includes in combination with a supporting frame and a ground engaging wheel having spikes projecting from the face thereof, a beet topping unit and a top stripping unit disposed in cooperating relation to the wheel spikes; said beet topping unit and top stripping unit being disposed to discharge into separate carryoif conveyors.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims. I

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the implement.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the implement. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the beet topping unit.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the top stripping unit.

Referring now more particularly to the charactors of reference on the drawings, our improved beet lifting and topping implement comprises a horizontal longitudinally elongated frame, which includes side beams l disposed in transversely spaced relation and rigidly connected at their ends by cross beams 2. The forward cross beam includes a draft connection 3 adapted to couple with the drawbar ll of a tractor indicated partially and diagrammatically at 5.

A relatively large diameter wheel 6 is journaled between the side beams I on a cross shaft S mounted at its ends in bearing blocks l. The wheel 6 includes a fiat, wide face F, on which is mounted a plurality of transversely spaced, circumferentially extending rows of outwardly iprojecting spikes 8; the spikes of each row being disposed in adjacent but equidistantly spaced relation. Each of the spikes is curved opposite to the direction of rotation of the wheel, said curve being on a progression so'that said prongs will enter the beets on an arc and in non-tearing relation thereto.

Alongside the wheel 6, each side beam 11 is fitted with a depending, longitudinally extending bracket assembly 9, which includes a vertically disposed plate Ill formed with vertically spaced longitudinal slots ll. A depending plow standard I2 is engaged at its upper end in face to face relation with plate i 0, and is secured to the same for adjustment lengthwise of the latter by means of bolts l3 which project through slots II. A tension rod I 4 connects between the standard intermediate its ends and the forward. end portion of the bracket assembly 9; the rod It being adjustable lengthwise to correspond to the position of adjustment of the standard on the plate l0.

At their lower ends, the standards l2 ar each fitted with a single wing plow l5;'the plows l5 being disposed slightly rearwardly of the vertical center line of the wheel axis. -These plows slope inward in their transverse plane and longitudinally converge upwardly and rearwardly, being ends of the latter. finger assembly adjacent cross member l9 and connect in implement lifting relation to power following:

A plurality of parallel, transversely spaced fingers l8 are secured together at one end in unitary relation by a rigid cross member is. Such unit projects between the posts It adjacent but above the wheel 6, and is pivoted as at 20 intermediate its ends to said posts: IS.

The fingers I! are spaced apart a distance such that the ends cit said finger adjacent the wheelare disposed betwee n the rows of spikes. At such end, the fingers are fitted with removable knives 2| which likewise project between the row of spikes and in a circumferential plane a predetermined distance inwardly of the outer Links 22 connect, with the thence extend at an upward slope to connection by bolts 23 with the posts I 6; said links being slotted as at 24 to permit of tilting adjustment of the finger and blade unit so as to dispose the cutting blades 2i in the desired circumferential plane relative to projecting spikes 8.

At the end opposite the cutting blades 2|, the finger unit is arranged with a hopper 25, which includes side wings 25a which extend alongside said finger unit some distance toward the cutting blades. The hopper 25 discharges into an endless conveyor, shown diagrammatically at 28, which extends transversely out from the implement for discharge into a truck or wagon traveling alongside.

Beyond and below .the above described beet topping unit, there is mounted a top stripping unit, which comprises a plurality of chisel-like stripping bars 21 which extend between the rows of spikes to a point adjacent the face of wheel t; said stripping bars being parallel and diverging from the wheel at an outward and downward slope. Each of the stripping bars 21 is supported by a separate vertical plate or standard II, and said plates are rigidly secured at their lower ends on a base 29 mounted between the side beams l ahead of the wheel. Another endless conveyor, shown diagrammatically at 30, is mounted in receiving relation to the grate formed by stripping bars 21; said conveyor 30 projecting laterally out from the implement on the side opposite conveyor 26.

Operation In operation, the implement is attached to a tractor in draft relation, and the chains H are v released so that the wheel 5 rides the ground.

The tractor is then driven so that the wheel I travels a row of beets B. With advance of the tractor and the implement, the spikes 8 penetrate the top of each beet in the row; such penetration being accomplished without a tearing action, for the reason, as previously described, that the spikes are on a progression curve. A moment after the beets are impaled on the spikes, which occurs when the spikes are on approximately the vertical center line of the wheel axis, the plows l5 disturb the earth around the impaled beets and exert a lifting action thereon, which assures that the crown C of each beet is forced into substantial engagement with the fac F of the wheel 8. This is advantageous, as it properly gauges the beets on the wheel for topping.

With continued advance of the wheel, the beets are lifted from the then disturbed ground, and

' cheeses are carried about on the wheel until they are inverted and reachthe cutting blades II. There upon, and with continued rotation of the wheel, the beets are topped by said blades; the beets falling into the hopper and being carried oil by the conveyor 28. The remaining crowns C of the beets are stripped from the spikes by the stripping bars 21, and such crowns when released from the spikes fall onto conveyor 30, which. discharges them laterally of the implement.

As is apparent, the position of plows l5 can be adjusted lengthwise of the implement so that the earth disturbing and beet lifting action can be effected at the proper moment. Also, as the fingers I8 are adjustably mounted, the cutting blades 2i can be set to top the beets in the desired circumferential plane relative to wheel face F against which the crowns are forced. While the implement as herein described is of single row type, the implement may be constructed for multi-row use by employing a plurality of spiked wheels mounted in axially spaced relation.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do-not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A plow assembly for a beet lifting implement which includes a frame having transversely spaced s de beams, and a spiked ground engaging beet pick-up wheel journaled between the side beams: said plow assembly comprising rig d standards disposed alongside the wheel, in depend ng relation to said side \beams, means securing the upper end portion of said standards in connection with corresponding side beams for adjustment vertically and horizontally, and plows mounted in connection with and extend ng laterally inwardly from the lower end portion of said standards, said plows sloping inwardly in their transverse plane and longitudinally converging upwardly and rearwardly to a termination at their rear ends in adjacent but spaced relation.

2.- A plow assembly for a beet lifting implement which includes a frame having transversely spaced side beams, and a spiked ground engaging beet pick-up wheel journaled between the side beams; said plow assembly comprising rigid standards disposed alongside the wheel, in depending relation to said side beams, means securing the upper end portion of said standards in connection with corresponding side beams for adjustment vertically and horizontally, and plows mounted in connection with and extending laterally inwardly from the lower end portion of said standards, said plows sloping inwardly in their transverse plane and longitudinally convergin upwardly and rearwardly to a.- termination at their rear ends in adjacent but spaced relation; said standard securing means comprising, for each standard, a vertical plate mounted on the corresponding side beam, the plate having parallel longitudinally extending slots therethrough in vertically spaced relation, the adjacent standard having a vertical row of holes therein spaced apart a distance equal tothe spacing of said slots, said adJacent standard engaging the plate in face to face engagement and in intersecting relation to the slots with certain of the holes in register with said slots, and securing bolts extending through the slots and registering holes in the standards.

3. A beet lifting plow assembly as in claim 2 including an axially adjustable tension rod connected at its forward end withsaid standard se-.

curing means ahead of each standard, and projecting rearwardly to connection with the latter intermediate its ends.

CLAUDE A. LOUCKS.

LLOYD K. 

